Washing-machine.



W. J. CONLON. WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.20.1915.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

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WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FlLE D MAR. 20.1915

1 ,298,899 Patented Apr. 1, 1919:

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WASHING MACHINE.

APPHCATION FILED MAR.20. 1915.

139,9. Patented Apr. 1,.1919.{

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i I Wimisses [H0611 Lox W Mam" J 60/1.) 1 {M w. 13y W/M WALTER J. CO'NLON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

Application filed March 20, 1915. Serial No. 15,788.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER J. CONLON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vashing-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to washing machines and has to do particularly with the driving means thereof-that is, the provision of improved means for reversing the direction of an operating member at regular intervals automatically and without in any way affecting a driving shaft operating continuously in one direction. My purpose is to provide a simple, effective and economical structure which will secure this result.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a front elevation of a machine embodying my invention, certain of the parts being broken away to show the driving mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with certain of the parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the lines 3, 3 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a view taken on the plane of the line 4, 4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a detail view in front elevation of a portion of the reversing mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a view partly in plan and partly in section of details of the reversing mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the reversing mechanism drawn on a somewhat larger scale, and

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the reversing mechanism similar to Fig. 3, but drawn on a larger scale.

The machine comprises a combined washing and wringing machine, having a washing drum 20 and. wringer rolls 21 which are driven by the electric motor 22. The drum 20 is inclosed in a suitable casing 23 having a semi-circular bottom portion and a rectangular top portion, and provided with a hinged cover 24 which is prefcrably made of sheet metal. This cover is composed of two parts hinged at 25 and attached to the casing 23 by the hinge 26,

,to allow the cover to be moved out laterally to disengage the various projecting parts of the machine when the cover is removed. The washing drum 20 is provided with a removable gate 18 held by a catch 19, for allowing ready access to the interior of the drum.

The various parts of the machine are supported by the legs 27 which are bolted to the casing 23 and which in connection with the casing form a framework for the other parts. Pivoted rollers are provided to allow the machine to be readily moved from place to place. The washing drum 20, shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2, substantially fills the casing 23 and, when the machine is in operation, this drum 20 contains the articles which are to be washed and the casing 23 contains the washing liquid into which the drum is partially submerged. In a machine of this character, it is desirable that the washing drum be rotated a number of times in one direction and then in the opposite direction the same number of times to prevent wadding of the clothes into a compact mass inside of the drum 20.

This reversal I secure by means of the automatic mechanism now to be described.

A bracket casting 45 is bolted to the legs 27 and, in turn, the casing 23 is bolted thereto. This bracket casting 45 carries the reversing mechanism. A beveled gear 28 is provided with a sleeve portion 29, this sleeve portion being journaled in a bearing 30, formed upon the bracket 45. In the same horizontal plane with'the axis of the beveled gear 28, but at right angles thereto, a shaft 31 is'mounted in bearings 32, 32, upon the bracket 45. Mounted loosely upon the shaft 31 next the lefthand bearing 32 is a pinion 33, and also mounted loosely upon the shaft next the right hand bearing 32 is a pinion 34, these two pinions being constantly in mesh with the gear 28. Between the two pinions 33 and 34 a shifting sleeve 35 is provided, this sleeve being provided upon its left hand end with a squared portion which fits snugly upon the squared portion 36 of the shaft 31, this construction providing for the rotation of the sleeve 35 always with the shaft 31, but permitting longitudinal movement therebetween. The sleeve 35 is provided with four collars, 37, 38, 39 and 40. Each of the outside collars is provided with a clutch pin 41 and each of these clutch pins is adapted to cooperate with a clutch pin 42 upon the respective pinions 33 or 34. The

disposition of the pinions and. the length of the sleeves are such that when the pins 41 and 42 on one side are in engagement the corresponding pins on the other side are out of engagement. Obviously, this means that one or the other of the pinions is in operative relation to the shaft. while the remaining pinion merely rotates loosely upon the shaft. The operative relation of these parts depends upon whether the sleeve is in its right hand or left hand position. I shall now describe the means for shifting the sleeve from one side to the other.

A. fork shaped member. 43 having an axial sleeve 44 is mounted with its axis coincident with that of the beveled gear 28. The sleeve 44 of this member fits with a-bearing disk within the sleeve 29 on the gear 28 and is internally screw threaded for a purpose to be described presently. The tangs of the member 43 embrace the shaft 31 as clearly shown in the drawings, and at their outer ends bear snugly in an opening 46 in the housing formed by the members 47 and 48, these members being bolted to the bracket at 49 and 50 respectively, and being bolted together at 51.

The sleeve 29 provides the bearing 52 for a stud shaft 53 which, as illustrated in Fig. 3, passes through an opening 54 in the casing 23, the casing being reinforced by means of plates 55 and a bearing member 56 bolted thereto, the bearing member 56 also providing a bearing for the sleeve 29, as shown in Fig. 3. The shaft 53 is provided at its inner end with the squared drive member 57 which is pinned thereto by means of a cotter 58. This drive member fits into a socket 59 secured to the center of the drum, the opposite side of the drum being also suitably supported. \This arrangement provides for the ready attachment and detachment of the drum from the driving shaft. The shaft 53 at its other end is threaded and has threaded engagement with the interior of the sleeve 44 on the member 43. It will now be seen that when the shaft 53 is turned in one directionthe member 43 will be moved outwardly, into the position shown in dotted line in Fig. 8, and when it is moved in the opposite direction the member 43 will be drawn inwardly.

Pinned to the shaft 53 is a clutch member 60, this member being provided with the clutch engaging shoulder 61. Shoulder 61 cotiperates with a shoulder 62 which is preferably integral with the sleeve 29, as illus- -trated in Fig. 8 and Fig. 3. Engagement of these shoulders is clearly shown in Fig. 4.

Upon each side of the shaft 31 the member 43 carries a cam, the inner cam 63 being tapered outwardly and upwardly. and the outer cam 64 being tapered outwardly and downwardly. The internal faces of the cams 63 and 64 are cut out upon a circle arranged over into its alternate position.

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is such that when one of the cam followers 65 rides upon the surface of the corresponding cam, as illustrated in Fig. 5 or Fig. 8, for instance, the sleeve 35 will be thrown 7 while the collars 38 and 39 can rotate without having their cam followers engage their cam, the gear 28 will continuein a given direction dependent upon the pinion by way of which it is brought into mechanical relation to the shaft. The cams 63 and 64 are thus placed a suitable distance apart, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 and the cams move back and forth, toward one cam follower and then the other in order to secure the reversing action which will now be pointed out. Assuming that the shaft 31 rotates in the direction of the arrow X of Fig. 8, it will be seen that the follower 65 on the collar 38 is riding upon the surface of the cam 64. While this following action is taking place the sleeve 35 is being moved over toward the left, Fig. 7, and when the sleeve 35 has been moved sufficiently for.the pin 41 to come into the path of the pin 42, it will pick up the pin 42 onthe pinion 33, and cause the pinion 33 to move in the direction of the arrow X, (Fig. 8). This means that the beveled gear 28 will move in the direction of the arrow Y of Fig. 1. Continuing in this movement the shoulder 62 of the clutch, which operates with the gear 28, will engage the shoulder 61 which moves directly with the shaft 53, and this means, of course, that the drum carrying the clothes will move with the shaft. The continued movement,

Now, a is.

however, does more. The threads between the shaft 53 and the sleeve 44 on the member 43 are in such a direction that when the gear and the shaft 53 operate in the direction of the arrow Y in Fig. 1, the member 43 will be moved outwardly toward'the position shown in dotted line in Fig. 8. This means that as such rotation is continued the cam 63 will gradually approach the collar 39 and eventually will lie'in such a position that the follower 65 on the collar 39 will ride upon the-surface of the cam 63. When this action occurs it is obvious that the sleeve 35 will be moved to the right (Fig. 7) and the pins 41 and 42 for the pinion 33 will be thrown out of engagement while the pins 41 and 42 of the pinion 34 will be thrown up the pin -12 of the pinion 3i. the pinion 3-1: will of course rotate in the direction of the arrow X (Fig. 8) and that means that the beveled gear 23 will move in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 1. This reverses the rotation of the drum and also inaugurates the inward movement of the member 43. which inward movement continues until the cam 6* has once more been engz ed by the corresponding follower 65-and this cycle of operation may be repeated indefinitely with the shaft 31 always operating in the direction of the arrow X.

It will be seen that in the reversing action the clutch has a play of half a revolution before taking eifect-that is, the members 61 and 62 are quarter pieces and they engage on one side for rotation in one direction and on the other side for rotation in the other direction. This leaves 180 which must be passed through as lost motion during the reversing action. There is further lost motion in the take up the pins 42 by the pins 41 which may amountto nearly a whole revolution of the shaft 31. This lost motion in two places is important since it gives the drum carrying the clothes time to slow down. and it may even come to rest and thus jarring or straining of the mechanism which would occur in overcoming inertia of the moving drum if its movement were immediately reversed. is obviated. This inertia is augmented by the fact that clothes will sometimes cling to the sides of the drum and will tend to rotate the drum ahead of the driving means so that I make it a particular point to give the drum time to come to rest. or nearly that. in my reversing action. This not only saves the machinery but it secures quiet action and is consistent with the purpose of the .shock absorber, which I have indicated at- 66, but which is not concerned with my present invention. The details of this shock absorber are described in my co-pending application, Serial Number 833,045 filed April 20th, 1914.

The shaft 31 is driven through the beveled gears 67 and 68 from the main shaft 69 which is connected to the motor shaft by means of the gear wheel '76 and the worm 71 mounted on the extension of the motor shaft. The beveled pinion 68 is loosely mounted on the shaft 69 and is adapted to be clutched to said shaft only when it is desired to actuate the drum of the washing machine.- An extension 72 of the shaft 69 is connected to gears (not shown) to the ringer rolls .21. The clutch controlling the washing mechanism in and out of gear com-.

prises a projection '73 mounted on the pinion 68 and a projection 74.- mounted on the sliding sleeve 75. This sleeve is keyed to the shaft and whenshifted into the lower position where the projections 73 and 74 engageeach other, power is transmitted to the washing mechanism. The sleeve 7 5 is provided with a groove into which a U- shaped shifting fork 76 is fitted. A rod 77 is connected with a controlled lever 78 within a control box 79 with the details of which I need not here be concerned. It is suflicient to say that the movement of the lever 78 throws the clutch in and out.

A beveled gear 79 is mounted upon the extremity of the ringer shaft 80. .It is sufficient here to say that this beveled gear is operated through the medium of they shaft 72 by means of connection mechanism within the control box 79 and that the lever 80' controls the direction as well as the completion of this connection.

I claim" as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a shaft having two pinions loosely mounted thereon, a second shaft having a gear meshing with both pin.- ions, a sleeve for connecting one or the other of said pinions with said first shaft, an engaging member on the sleeve and a. cam member controlled by the second shaft to move into the path of the engaging memher. said engaging member being adapted to be rotated into contact with the cam member to shift the sleeve.

2. In combination, a shaft having two inions loosely mounted thereon, a second shaft having a gear meshing with both pinions. a sleeve for connecting one or the other of said pinions with its shaft, engaging means rotatable with the sleeve, and cam means controlled by the second shaft, said engaging means being adapted to strike the cam means to shift the sleeve.

3. In combination. a shaft having two pinions loosely mounted thereon, a second shaft having a gear meshing with both pinions, a sleeve for connecting one or the other of said pinions with its shaft. and a shifting cam member adapted to be engaged by the sleeve to shift the sleeve from one pinion engaging position to another.

4. In combination, a shafthaving two pinions loosely mounted thereon, a second shaft having a gear meshing with both pinions, a sleeve for connecting one or the other of said pinions with its shaft, and a. shifting cam member for alternately enga ing said connecting sleeve to move it from one pinion engaging position to the other, said shifting member having threaded engagement with said second shaft.

5. In combination, a shaft arranged for continuous rotation in the same direction. a second shaft positioned normal to said first named shaft, a beveled gear on said second shaft. two pinions loosely mounted upon said first named shaft. one of said pinions meshing with said gear on one side thereof and the other pinion meshing with said gear on the other side thereof, a sleeve posed on each side of said first named shaft,

a cam follower for each of said camscarried by said sleeve, said cams being alternately carried into engagement with their respective followers by the reciprocation of said reciprocating member, engagement by either of said cams with its follower causing the shifting of said sleeve to reverse the connections between the sleeve and said pinion to reverserthe direction of rotation of the second shaft, said sleeve rotating with said first named shaft.

6. In combination, 'a shaft arranged for continuous rotation in the same direction, a second shaft positioned normal to said first named shaft, a beveled gear on said secondv shaft, two pinions loosely mounted upon said first named shaft, one of said pinionsmeshing with saidgear on oneyside thereof and the other pinion meshing with said gear on the other side thereof, a sleeve carried by said first shaft between said pinions, a clutch pincat each end of said sleeve,- a clutch pin v on each of said pinions adapted for cooperation with the corresponding clutch pin on said sleeve, one pair of clutch pins being out of engagement when the other pair are in engagement, a reciprocating member having threaded engagement with said second shaft, a pair of cams carried by said reciprocating member, one cam being disposed on each side of said first named shaft, a cam follower for each of said cams carried by said sleeve,'said cams being alternately carried into engagement with their respective followers by the reciprocation of said reciprocating member, engagement by either of saidcams with its follower causing the shifting of said sleeve to reverse the connections between the sleeve and said pinion to reverse the direction of rotation of the second shaft, said sleeve rotating with said first named shaft, a rotating drum and a clutch between said second hamed shaft and said drum.

7. In combination a shaft arranged for continuous rotation in the same direction, a second shaft positioned normal to said first named shaft, a beveled gear on said second shaft, two pinions loosely mounted upon said first named shaft, one of said pinions meshing with said gear on one side thereof and the other inion meshing with said gear on the other side thereof, a sleeve carried by said first shaft between said pinions, a clutch pinat each end of said sleeve, a clutch pin on each of said pinions adapted for ca operation with the corresponding clutch pin on said sleeve, one pair of clutch pins being out of engagement when the other pair are in engagement, a reciprocating member having threaded engagement with said second shaft, a pair of cams carried by said recip-' rocatin member, one cam being disposed on each si e of said first named shaft, a cam follower for each of said cams carried by said sleeve, said cams being alternately carried into engagement with their respective followers by the reciprocation of said reciprocating member, engagement by either of said cams with its follower causing the shifting of said sleeve to reverse the connections between the sleeve and said pinion to reverse the direction of rotation of the second shaft, .said sleeve rotating with said.

first named shaft, a rotating drum and a clutch between said second named shaft and said drum, there being play in said second named clutch, so that said second named shaft will operate before the drum operates. '8. In combination, a shaft arranged for continuous rotation in the same direction, a

second shaft positioned normal to said first named shaft, a beveled gear on said second shaft, two pinions loosely mounted upon said first named shaft, one of said pinions meshing with said gear on one side thereof and threaded engagement with said second shaft,

a pair of cams carried by said reciprocating member, one cam being disposed on each side of said first named shaft, a cam fol-' lower for each of said cams carried by said sleeve, said cams being alternately carried into engagement with their respective followers by the reciprocation of said reciprocating member, engagement by either of said cams with its follower causing the shifting of said sleeve to reverse the connections between the sleeve and said pinion to reverse the direction of rotation of the second shaft, said sleeve rotating with said first named shaft, a rotating drum and a clutch between said second named shaft and said drum, there being play in said second named clutch, so that said second named shaft will operate before the drum operates, there being also play in the clutch engagement between the sleeve and either of said pinions.

9. In combination, a driving shaft, 8.

driven'shaft, a pair of pinions on one shaft,

a gear meshing with the pinions on the other shaft, a palr of cam members adapted to be in onmoved alternately toward and away from said one shaft, a shiftable clutching member keyed to the one shaft, said clutching member having means for engaging the cam members alternately to cause alternate clutchin of said member with said pinions, said shi able clutching memberrotating at all times with said one shaft.

10. In combination, a driving shaft, a pair of loose ears on the driving-shaft, a driven shaft aving a fixed gear meshing with the loose gear, a clutchin member rotatable on the first shaft and s idably keyed thereon, cam means on the member and cam means moved by the driven shaft to come into the path of the cam means 0 clutching member to cause shifting o the clutching member, the motion of shifting being secured by'the motion of the driving shaft.

11. In combination, a shaft, a pair of pinions loosely mounted on said shaft, a second shaft having a gear meshing with the pinions, a shiftable clutching sleeve movable rotatably with the shaft and movable axially on the shaft to change its clutching relation with said pinions, and a cam member adapted to be moved .by motion of the second shaft toward the sleeve, said sleeve having a cam member adapted to strike the first cam member and force the sleeve axially.

the

member adapted to strike the first cam memher to force the sleeve axially, and a screw thread connection between the second shaft and said first cam member.

13. In combination, a driving shaft havinga pair of pinions loosely mounted thereon, a driven shaft having a gear meshing with said pinions, cam means controlled vby the motion of the driven shaft to move into alternative positions corresponding to the direction of rotation of the driven shaft, and means moving rotatably with the driving shaft'and adapted to engage said cam means for controlling the alternate clutchin of said pinions to the driving shaft.

n witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 17th day of March, A. D. 1915.

Witnesses:

LESLIE W. Fmoxn', Emms'r W. RAPALEE.

WALTER"J.'CONLON. 

